Hacker Tries Raiding Atascadero’s Bank Account

A computer hacker, who installed a Trojan horse onto a PC of City of Atascadero (California, USA) apparently, gained entry into an account of its bank; however, banking officials acted wisely that saved the City from losing any fund, published Central Coast in news on July 7, 2011. Further according to Rabobank, the incident had put no employee data in danger.

Said City staff, on July 1, 2011, five wire-transfers took place, while on July 5, 2011, five more had been attempted. These transfers, it is reported, were tried to send to a number of banks' accounts across 5 states comprising Oklahoma, California, Maryland, Florida and Pennsylvania.

Stated Tom O'Malley Mayor of Atascadero, at the end of the week, notice arrived for the city of somebody trying to conduct wire-transfers from its coffers. Kcby.com published this on July 7, 2011.

States Wade McKinney City Manager, the hacker dispatched one electronic mail allegedly from NACHA (National Automated Clearing House Association) that every year enables a massive number of e-payments like direct payment and direct deposit.

Evidently, one PC technician of the city clicked on the e-mail and it unleashed a virus, which utilized Atascadero's wire-transfer mechanism vis-à-vis the bank, and allegedly transmitted money to a number of banks' accounts in different branches nationwide with which Atascadero never has any trade.

Luckily, the officials responded fast that stopped any mishap from occurring.

Consequently, Mayor O'Malley applauded bank officials and city staffers towards their prompt handling of the situation, saying that similar as Atascadero's Police Department feared the individuals who seemingly sabotaged the city's Colony Community Center lately, the Technology and Finance departments of the city too coordinated with the officials representing the bank, fast and effectively, and deflected the said problem. According to him, he expected the people who tried making the fraudulent transfers would get caught and prosecuted. Central Coast published this.

O'Malley further said that it would be extremely simple for presuming that it was some genuine transfer, but for the multiple verifications, which made city staffers to regard the incident with concern, as also discuss it with Rabobank. Ksby.com published this.